UTMC

I know there's probably a better section for this, but last week I accidentally deleted some files in my computer that has rendered my windows XP useless.

I ran some antivirus software for the first time, it came up with four files that said were "infected" and should I delete them and before I had a chance to really consider it, I clicked yes. Since then I can't do anything; I have no access to anything but the internet. Apparently my product key was one of the things I fucked up because it says I have to validate my copy of windows. I type in the key, it tells me it's invalid.

How fucked am I?

Well, you may have to call Microsoft to get your key validated. You may need to do a fresh install. If you need to do a fresh install, and have things that need backed up, providing you can still burn a disc, you can run your computer on a linux live CD, which will load the OS into memory and not run off the hard drive, the contents of which you can transfer to an external HD or whatever before doing your reinstall.
That's one option.
Yer not completely fucked, it's just gonna take a little maneuvering.

can't you revert to a previous working system? I did in a similar case after I messed up with the registry on a antivirus bug and it saved the day. You need the Windows install CD I think.

How do you do that? herrrr... You might need to ask to someone else or google about it because I am totally unable to remember how I get to this possibility.

xtian wrote:can't you revert to a previous working system? I did in a similar case after I messed up with the registry on a antivirus bug and it saved the day. You need the Windows install CD I think.

How do you do that? herrrr... You might need to ask to someone else or google about it because I am totally unable to remember how I get to this possibility.

It's been quite a while since I've done a Windows install, but if I remember correctly, if you boot with the install disc, you have the option to try to reapair a broken system....

(And, if that doesn't work for some reason, then the Linux option can be tried. Of course, I'm biased and want to convert people)

Davros wrote:It's been quite a while since I've done a Windows install, but if I remember correctly, if you boot with the install disc, you have the option to try to reapair a broken system....

+1
I've always had good luck getting the windows system files happy with the repair option. You have to use the second one. The first repair option assumes you had the forethought to make a "repair cd". It will give you the second option to repair once it detect your current OS. I do remember it looks like it is reinstalling over everything and you will crap your pants. It should just replace the system files.
You can also pull the drive out and use a USB adapter to back up anything you need to keep to another machine if there is one available.

tjaa!! making a back up of anything useful before you try anything is a smart advise.

This is why I have a separate system partition and separate partitions for my all files.
Since a clean re-install involves re-installing most applications anyway, formatting my system partition is no worry.
Obviously, since I have taken up this strategy, I don't think I ever had to fall back on it...umbrellas and rain, ey.

Repair install is the way to go. If it complains, well, you say you have access to the internet...depending on what files you are missing (generic windows stuff or stuff with your settings in it), you may be able to download them. Have you tried booting into safe mode?

Davros wrote:(And, if that doesn't work for some reason, then the Linux option can be tried. Of course, I'm biased and want to convert people)

yeah, but at least you are trying to be helpful instead of just saying something snotty like "buy a mac".

i've fixed three utmc member machines with similar /symptoms/ recently, primarily 'can't get to the internet'.

check in IE and firefox to see if there's a proxy server checked that it wants you to use. usually this should be unchecked and not being used.
if you see a proxy server set for 127.0.0.1 port 5???, then you've got the same crap that the folks whose machines I fixed have.

if you've got that, pm me and i'll give you the rundown on how to get rid of it. there are at least two variations (one's an actual rootkit and the other's just irritating).

also what AV software did you run? I've been trading everything out for malwarebytes and windows security essentials on computers with over 2g of ram (mse is a memory hog).

Rev wrote:I was sure this thread was going to be related to the landmine in your yard. Glad to hear it's just the computer.

ditto. somewhat disappointed, in fact.

Actually, there's a "restore system to a previous restoration point" in my start/programs/accessories/system tools menu

xtian wrote:Actually, there's a "restore system to a previous restoration point" in my start/programs/accessories/system tools menu

If you actually have a usable previous restore point that will probably work splendidly. You'll just lose anything you've done after that point.

Bo_9 wrote:

xtian wrote:Actually, there's a "restore system to a previous restoration point" in my start/programs/accessories/system tools menu

If you actually have a usable previous restore point that will probably work splendidly. You'll just lose anything you've done after that point.

Are you sure? Doesn't it only affect the system and leave all your datas intact and untouched ? I don't remember it affecting my datas but I am even more paranoid than Dergoldo, I use separate hard drives for system and datas.

and a third one as a data back up.

With data stored on separate drives or partitions it should leave those intact if you only had it create a restore for the sys drive. Only time I've used it has been on single drive/part workstations.

xtian wrote:

Bo_9 wrote:

xtian wrote:Actually, there's a "restore system to a previous restoration point" in my start/programs/accessories/system tools menu

If you actually have a usable previous restore point that will probably work splendidly. You'll just lose anything you've done after that point.

Are you sure? Doesn't it only affect the system and leave all your datas intact and untouched ? I don't remember it affecting my datas but I am even more paranoid than Dergoldo, I use separate hard drives for system and datas.

and a third one as a data back up.

I don't use separate hard drives, but I do use separate partitions for my / and my /home directories. And an external HD for added redundancy, file backup.

Turns out somebody had installed XP Professional on my computer, I either didn't remember or they didn't tell me and thus the product key was invalid because I didn't have the bloody thing.

All better now.

Detonation of unused landmine to take place later this week.